The water quality of the lakes, which to most people is a matter of how clear the water is, directly relates to the quality of water coming into the lakes from their surrounding watersheds. Increasing development pressure and poor management practices around lakes has raised concerns about water quality and impacts on our lakes.

Often property owners find that they do not have all the resources to properly manage their lake. Seminole County Lake Management Program (SCLMP) offers options that are understandable and responsive to undesirable lake conditions affecting water quality and biological habitats for insects, fish, birds, etc.

The term "Environmental Stewardship" is taking active participation to care for natural resources ensuring that they are sustainably managed for current and future generations. By becoming a lake steward, citizens actively care for the needs of their lake. SCLMP promotes remediation of undesirable lake conditions by facilitating stewardships (lake associations) and partnerships among various stakeholders including fellow neighbors, landowners, community groups, and local and state government professionals working together protecting/improving/managing your lake.

SCLMP provides the following resources for unincorporated county lakes:

Provide Biological and Water Quality Diagnosis - To assess the extent of eutrophication and evaluate trends in water quality conditions.

Conduct Watershed Assessment - A detailed evaluation of important watershed features, such as land uses and soil types, is conducted to identify active or potential sources of pollution that need to be addressed to protect and improve lake water quality.

Develop Lake Management Plan - The results of the water quality diagnosis and watershed assessment are used to evaluate methods to remediate undesirable lake conditions and to manage pollution sources in the lake watershed. The plan identifies the most cost effective ways to achieve water quality objectives.

The development of a successful lake management program is dependent on active community participation. SCLMP is very active in meeting with property owners, lake associations, and professional officials to promote and assist in various lake management projects. It's the cumulative effect of all of our efforts that will help protect our watershed.